Pill dispenser with removable cartridge

ABSTRACT

A pill dispenser having a disposable cartridge containing a stack of pills. Means is provided for effecting relative rotation between the cartridge and the dispenser&#39;&#39;s casing whereby a follower device coupled therebetween ejects a pill in synchronization with a day indicia means.

Elnited States Patent Gayle 1 1 Aug. 29, 1972 [54] PILL DISPENSER WITHREMOVABLE 2,294,001 8/1942 Ritter ..221/279 X CARTRIDGE 3,344,95110/1967 Gervais .221/281 X [72] Inventor: Robert Gayle, Wilton, Conn.06897 Przmary Examiner-Samuel F. Coleman [73] Assignee: Eli Lilly andCompany, Indianapolis, Att0rneyEveret F. Smith and Houston L. SwensonInd.

22 Filed: on. s, 1970 [571 ABSTRACT [21] APPL 7 7 A pill dispenserhaving a disposable cartridge containing a stack of pills Means isprovided for effecting relative rotation between the cartridge and thedispense Casing whereby a follower device Coupled l'l I th t m .L, a "Hs a U 1 [58 Field of Search ..222/327,390; 221/2, 7, 8, 32253213: I m 1[56] References Cited 2 Claims 6 Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTS1,141,392 6/1915 Heath et al. ..222/390 l I g I PATENTED M1929 umINVENTOR ROBERT GAYLE ATTORNEY PILL DISPENSER WITH REMOVABLE CARTRIDGEBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In writing out prescriptions it is generallythe practice of physicians to specify that the medicament (hereafterreferred to as a pill) should be taken at prescribed intervals. Suchinterval may be only a matter of hours; or, on the other hand, may be onthe basis of one per day, or perhaps one every other day. In any event,it is essential that the patient be able to determine whether or not hehas taken a pill for that interval since it is quite possible that hismemory will fail him. Various devices have been contrived in which thepatient, upon taking a pill from the dispenser or container, will, in aseparate physical action, record this fact. For those patients who arealways able to remember to make a recording mark or other similar act,such a procedure is sufficient. However, many a person forgets to enteron his own personal record the fact that he has taken a pill at thespecified time. Thus, he is confronted with the problem of trying toremember whether or not he actually took a pill for that interval.

A number of pill dispensers have been designed to provide automatic orsemiautomatic recording of pill consumption. In many instances the pilldispenser is discarded after the last pill has been taken. Generallyspeaking, it is preferable that the medicament be placed in thedispenser by the manufacturer rather than by the patient. Consequently,the normal procedure is to sell pre-loaded dispensers containingmedicament, then discard the dispensers once they are empty.

It is apparent that with such a procedure there is wastage of thedispenser, and the result is an increase in cost and price. In an effortto overcome this disadvantage a portion of the dispenser of thisinvention is adapted to be re-used by the patient an indefinite numberof times. This is accomplished by providing a cartridge containing pillswhich is readily inserted into the dispenser. Thus, the dispenser can bere-loaded by the user with a cartridge filled with pills which areprepackaged by the manufacturer under the appropriate sanitarysafeguards.

In addition, there are some instances where the physician desires toprescribe a sequence of pills comprising at least two different types.Thus, he may wish to prescribe fifteen pills initially of one hormone tobe followed by five pills ofa different hormone. In such instances it isessential that the patient take the pills precisely as prescribed.Therefore, it is desirable to have a pill dispenser which may be easilyfilled with two different types of pills in a prescribed sequence andwhich will assure the dispensing of the pills in accordance with thephysicians instructions.

The majority of prior pill dispensers with indicating means havedepended on an individual compartmentizing approach. Each pill wasisolated from other pills, usually by providing a recess or pocket forthe pill. In this manner the pills would not be chipped or broken duringshipment. However, the loading of pills into individual compartments hasincreased costs since specially designed equipment was usually required.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The above disadvantages have beenovercome by the dispenser of this invention through the use of a car-LII tridge or tube which holds the pills in a stacked relationship. Thepills are snugly contained in the cartridge and cannot shake aroundloosely in the dispenser. Loading the cartridge is relatively easy; andthe pills, if comprised of two types of medicaments, can be stacked in apredetermined sequence for proper dispensement.

Briefly, the dispenser of this invention comprises a cylindrical casingwith a removable cartridge containing stacked pills. The cartridge hasmeans for maintaining the pills in a snug relationship during shipmentand throughout their dispensement. A rotatable selector on the casinghas indicia which align with a reference means on the casing toautomatically indicated the proper hour, day, etc. each time a pill isdispensed.

It is therefore one object of this invention to provide a new andimproved pill dispenser.

Another object of this invention is to provide for a new and improvedpill dispenser adapted for receiving pre-loaded pill cartridges.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pill cartridge for apill dispenser in which the pills may be pre-arranged in a prescribedsequence.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved pilldispenser having a disposable cartridge containing pills maintained in asnug and stacked relationship.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved pilldispenser having a removable pill cartridge and an automatic indicatingmeans.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be made apparentupon reading the following specification in connection with thedrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front view in elevation ofthe pill dispenser of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal view in cross section taken along line 22 ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal view in cross section taken along line 33 ofFIG. 2; and

FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 are views in cross section along lines 4-4, 55 and 6-6of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, respectively.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The pill dispenser of thisinvention as illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 has a stylized contour formed froma casing 12 and a selector 13. These members may be injection moldedfrom polystyrene, polypropylene or some other suitable plasticmaterials. Casing 12 has a removable cover 15 which in the particularembodiment may be connected to a plug 18 by a thin web of plasticmaterial 16 frequently referred to as a living hinge. A small tab 17extends from cover 15 to provide an easy means for lifting the coverfrom its casing. Selector l3 likewise has a cover 19 which can beintegrally formed therewith and also has a tab 20. Casing 12 andselector 13 are rotatably mounted together and in the particularillustration this is accomplished by telescoping end 21 of the selectorover a recessed shoulder 23 on the casmg.

The casing has a substantially cylindrical inner surface defining achamber 24. On the inner surface of the casing a helical guide track 25is formed. Positioned within chamber 24 is a substantially cylindricalcartridge 26 adapted for containing a plurality of stacked pills 28.Pill cartridge 26 is removably positioned within the casing and has aflanged end 27 which abuts the inner surface of selector cover 19 overits hub 29. The opposite end of cartridge 26 comprises four flexiblefingers 30 which are contoured inwardly to ratain pills within thecartridge. Inner surface of cover 19 is provided with a plurality ofsmall gear teeth 33 which snugly grip flanged end 27. A pill guide 35 isinitially positioned near flanged end 27 and comprises a cylindricalplug with a projection 36. Projection 36 rides within a longitudinalgroove 38 which extends the full length of cartridge 26.

In operation removable pill cartridge 26 is inserted into the chamber ofthe casing through the cover of cylinder 13. The cartridge becomesseated in a fixed position against flanged end 37 of casing 12 and ismaintained in this position by the selectors cover 19 when it is closed.In order to eject a pill from the cartridge, selector 13 is rotated in aclockwise direction until the proper day of the week marking 39 oncasing 12 appears through a reference means 40 which in this embodimentis a rectangular window. Selector 13 can be rotated in only a clockwisedirection due to the cooperation of a pair of antireverse ratchets 41 oncasing 12 which cooperate with a series of seven retaining fingers 43 onselector 13.

As the selector is rotated, cartridge 26 is rotated due to the drivingengagement of gear teeth 33. The projection 36 on the pill guide is thusrotated along the helical guide track and is thereby forced toward theend of the pill cartridge having the flexible fingers 30. As thispressure continues, the pill adjacent the flexible fingers causes thefingers to slightly separate thereby permitting the pill to be forcedinto pill exit 45 of cover 15. Markings 39 are spaced around theperiphery of the selector to correspond with the successive ejection ofpills. In addition, the antireverse ratchets 41 override the sevenretaining fingers 43 to provide a positive action as each pill isejected. The synchronization of the pill ejection with the day markingand resulting click from the ratchets and fingers is effected by apredetermined pitch for the helical guide track 25.

The operation of this dispenser has been performed with cover 15 in itsclosed position over pill exit 45. In this manner the pill will not beaccidentally dropped as it is discharged from cartridge 26. However, inorder to prevent accidental breakage of the pill to be ejected againstthe inner surface of cover 15, the dimensions of teeth 33 should be ofpredetermined size and strength. In particular, these tiny gear teethmay be flexible whereby they override flanged end 27 when the pill guideforces the stack of pills against casing cover 15. In this mannerpressure on the pill to be ejected will be minimized and breakage willbe avoided.

It is apparent that other modifications can be made such as a differenttype of indicia. In addition, the heli cal gear track on the innersurface of casing 12 can be formed in other manners such as on aseparate tube that fits within the casing.

I claim:

1. A pill dispenser comprising:

a casing having a substantially cylindrical inner sur face defining achamber therein,

a pill exit tone end of said ch mber, a replacea Ie cover positione oversaid pill exit,

a helical guide track on said casing s inner surface,

a cylindrical cartridge adapted for containing a plurality of stackedpills therein, said cartridge being rotatably positioned within saidcasings chamber and having an opening adjacent said casing pill exit,

a pill guide seated in said cartridge for longitudinal travel thereinand engaged with a longitudinally helical guide track in said chamber,

and a selector rotatably mounted on said casing in rotary engagementwith said cartridge, said selector having indicia adapted for successivealignment with a reference means on said casing upon rotary advancementof said selector and cartridge for urging said outermost pill throughsaid opening and to said pill exit, said selector overriding itsengagement with said cartridge upon rotation thereof after blockage oflongitudinal travel of said pill guide.

2. A pill dispenser according to claim I in which the engagement betweensaid selector and cartridge comprises a ring of feather gears on saidselector gripping the perimeter of said cartridge.

1. A pill dispenser comprising: a casing having a substantiallycylindrical inner surface defining a chamber therein, a pill exit at oneend of said chamber, a replaceable cover positioned over said pill exit,a helical guide track on said casing''s inner surface, a cylindricalcartridge adapted for containing a plurality of stacked pills therein,said cartridge being rotatably positioned within said casing''s chamberand having an opening adjacent said casing pill exit, a pill guideseated in said cartridge for longitudinal travel therein and engagedwith a longitudinally helical guide track in said chamber, and aselector rotatably mounted on said casing in rotary engagement with saidcartridge, said selector having indicia adapted for successive alignmentwith a reference means on said casing upon rotary advancement of saidselector and cartridge for urging said outermost pill through saidopening and to said pill exit, said selector overriding its engagementwith said cartridge upon rotation thereof after blockage of longitudinaltravel of said pill guide.
 2. A pill dispenser according to claim 1 inwhich the engagement between said selector and cartridge comprises aring of feather gears on said selector gripping the perimeter of saidcartridge.